Thought I would share some of the upcoming projects that I have been thinking about. I have been privileged to own several custom rifles from some of the best custom builders IMHO (Burgess, Fisher, Milliron, Hoenig). I am planning to build a few from some of the current generation of smiths.

I benefited from a dad who had a passion for Mausers, Model 70's both custom and original, I now have the sickness. My 2 young boys will some day inherit some nice rifles.

Here is what I have in mind.

Barreled action. Sako AII action, PacNor Super Match, .260 Rem. 26" tube, looking for a stick of wood.

Left - Right

Granite Mountain Small Double Sq. Bridge action. Thinking Steve Heilmann and .250 Savage.

(2) G33-40 actions. Thinking Joe Smithson .280 Rem, and .35 Whelen

Pre 64 Winchester Model 70. Blackburn bottom metal. Thinking Mark Penrod metal work, James Tucker wood. 7mm Rem Mag.

Pre-War Winchester Model 70. Blackburn bottom metal. Thinking Mark Penrod metal work, James Tucker wood. 7x57.

Not pictured...

Waffenfabrik Sq. Bridge Magnum Mauser .416 Rigby Kreiger Barrel.
(2) Brno 21 actions.... Undecided.

What say you, any suggestions?

Holy cow, that's some nice hardware. Looks like you have enough irons in the fire to last a few years, those will make some fine heirlooms.

Why not go to DSC the first weekend in January and look at the goodies there; will help to make up your mind, most of those guys will be there.

Blackburn is out of business unless you already have your bottom metal.

I have several sets, 3 of them for Model 70's are pictured.

Ted has retired, but his equipment, tooling, drawings, etc., have been purchased by Swift bullet company and Bill Hober. Swift is now manufacturing Blackburn bottom metal and has many models in stock for immediate delivery, or did last I heard.

TT

I took delivery of Swift/Blackburn metal just this past week for a pre-64 M70. Indistinguishable from Ted's old product.

Also, here's one that I packed up this afternoon, and will ship off to Gary Goudy next week. Have a look. The pre-64 barreled action is chambered for the 9.3x62 cartridge.

TT

That is going to be NICE!

Whitebird,

Your choice of materials and craftsmen is superb. . Can't think of much, if anything, that I would change.

TT

Thanks TT..

I wish I had a few sets of Burgess bottom metal, along with a few of his QD mounts.

That is one of the most beautiful pieces of walnut I've ever seen Tom! Please keep us updated on it's progress.

Terry

Terry,

Thanks, it is a pretty nice stick. However, it does have one flaw that might render it unusable. I'll have to wait for Gary to whittle on it for awhile to be sure, one way or the other. That stick had been cut for twenty or more years when I bought it about ten or twelve years ago. In the blank, there were no visible flaws. However, when another stockmaker cut into it, he found a lead bullet imbedded in the blank. The tree had grown around the bullet, encapsulating it inside the wood. Most likely some kid many, many years ago, shot into the tree with a .22, although that is but a guess. Anyway, hopefully the blank can be salvaged as it is a very nice stick of English. I'll keep you posted. Never worry though, I do have a plan B, just in case.
TT

Have the model 70 actions trued.

Can't speak for Whitebird, but he says he's thinking of Mark Penrod for the metalwork on his pre-64s, so I would make a guess that they have not yet been trued. In the one that I posted, it has been ground and trued.

TT

That just means it HAS to be a rifle stock. Christened from the beginning. Bullet scar on the stock wouldn't bother me much if it was only cosmetic.